Understanding Your Award

EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

The data gathered from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used by the federal government to determine the amount of money you or your family could reasonably contribute toward your education for this year. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) appears on the Student Aid Report (SAR) which you received after submitting the FAFSA. The EFC may or may not be the amount you actually end up paying for college.

CALCULATING FINANCIAL NEED

Once your EFC and your Cost of Attendance (COA) are established, your Financial Need (Need) can be calculated.

COA - EFC = NEED

The Financial Aid award tries to meet your Need with one or more of the following:

Not all students are eligible for all programs. You will be offered all aid types that you are eligible to receive within federal, state and institutional guidelines and fund limits. Because resources are limited in some of these programs, we encourage you to apply for financial aid by March 15. You may apply by clicking on thisFAFSA link.

Once your available financial aid awards have been determined, you will either be sent a post card (new students) or sent an email (returning students). These communications will guide you to https://my.cwu.edu > MyCWU > Sign In > Financial Toolbox > View Financial Aid. There you will find the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the Cost of Attendance (COA), your calculated Need, and your financial aid offer. Please read the Conditions of Financial Aid Award, Satisfactory Progress Standards, Loan Conditions, and then accept or decline the offer of aid (click here for instructions). You may reduce loan amounts, and adjustments can be made to loans during the year. No aid will be processed unless you accept it.

AWARD LETTERS

New Students

A communication will be sent via US Mail to notify you that you have been awarded financial aid and will include directions on how to Accept / Decline your award(s) online.

Returning Students

Once you have been awarded, you will receive an email notification through CWU’s GroupWise email using your CWU email address directing you to the online financial aid services.

PRORATED AWARDS FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS

STATE NEED GRANT AND PELL GRANT WILL BE PRORATED TO APPROXIMATELY:100% for 12 or more credits75% for three-quarter-time attendance (9-11 credits),50% for half-time attendance (6-8 credits),25% for less than half-time attendance, 3-5 credits for state aid.